Introduction

Cost of Overseas Education Consultants for US and UK Universities: The cheapest study-abroad consultant may not actually be the cheapest.

That sounds strange until you look at how overseas education consulting works.

One consultant may ask you for $500 upfront. Another may advertise “100% free counselling.” A third may charge nothing for university applications but make money through relationships with universities.

So if you are planning to study in the United States or United Kingdom, asking only “How much does an education consultant cost?” doesn’t really give you the full picture.

A better question is:

What exactly am I paying for, and how does this consultant make money?

That question matters because two consultants can charge the same amount while offering completely different services.

One might simply help you submit applications. Another could help you choose universities, review your documents, prepare essays, search for scholarships and organize your visa documentation.

And sometimes, the person offering “free” services may have a completely different business model from the consultant charging you directly.

There is nothing automatically wrong with either approach.

The important thing is knowing what you’re getting into before money changes hands.